139491: He asked her for money or a ticket to travel to meet her, then he did not go

I was in a relationship with a non-Muslim girl who lives in a different city. One time I wanted to visit her so we agreed on a date and I booked the plane ticket then one day before travelling, she decided that she did not want to see me at all, so I cancelled the trip and asked her to give me the value of the ticket which I did not use, because she was the reason why I lost that money, and she sent me the money in full. Now, after I have repented and I ask Allah to accept that repentance, do I have to return this money to her? Because basically I am the one that was in the wrong. Is it permissible for me to marry her if she is guided and embraces Islam?.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

We praise Allah for having blessed you with repentance and
turning away from that haraam action, and we ask Him to accept your
repentance from you and to make you steadfast in adhering to guidance and
the straight path.

You should know that the prohibition on zina, and the
prohibition on such illegitimate relationships, has to do with the rights of
Allah, may He be exalted, and it does not have to do with the rights of
people. It makes no difference whether the woman with whom zina is committed
is a Muslim or a kaafir, and it makes no difference whether she agreed to
that or even wanted it, or whether she was forced into it. All of it is zina
on the part of the one who does it and is haraam to him, even though some
kinds of haraam actions are more forbidden than others, and zina with some
women is worse than with others. But this is another matter which is not
what we are talking about here.

Beware of the way the Shaytaan deceives many Muslims and
makes them take lightly the matter of sinful relationships and even makes
them fall into zina and sins that cause a person’s doom, and they think that
if the woman is a kaafir, zina with her is less serious, and they may not
think that it is haraam zina.

Secondly:

This money that you got comes under the heading of consuming
people's wealth unlawfully. You did not have the right to travel to see her
in the first place, and if you had travelled you would not have any right to
get any money from her in return for your travel expenses. If you incurred
some material loss as a result of your travelling, or of not travelling in
this case, she is not responsible for any of that at all and it is not
permissible for you to take material compensation for what you lost.

What you have to do is return to her the money that she sent
to you, and explain to her that it is not permissible for you according to
your religion, and that the relationship that existed between you is also a
haraam relationship according to our religion. And you should explain to her
the meaning of repentance from haraam relationships with women.

Thirdly:

If this woman actually enters Islam willingly and it becomes
apparent to you that her case is genuine, then there is nothing wrong with
you marrying her, although we advise you to close the door to any attachment
to her and avoid waiting in the hope that she becomes Muslim or becomes
interested in you. You will find among the chaste Muslim women that are
permissible for you to marry that which will leave you with no need for
that, and will keep you chaste and protect you from haraam.

And Allah is the one who blesses and honours those whom He
loves and is pleased with.